Seahawks Prep For Sunday Semifinal With NU's Huskies

Game #31: UNCW "Seahawks" vs. Northeastern "Huskies" 2015 CAA Men's Basketball Championship Semifinals Royal Farms Arena (14,000) • Baltimore, Md. Sunday, March 8, 2015 • 5 p.m. Seahawk Digital Network (Audio) • Live Stats Twitter: @UNCWMensHoops • #wingsup CAA Championship Notes Supplemental Notes Vs. NU


	UNCW "Seahawks" 2014-15 Record: 18-12, 13-6 CAA Last Game: Mar. 7 vs. CofC - W, 79-53 (Recap \| Box Score) Head Coach: Kevin Keatts (1st Season) Roster \| Schedule \| Statistics \| Homepage


	Northeastern "Huskies" 2014-15 Record: 21-11, 13-6 CAA Last Game: Mar. 7 vs. Delaware - W, 67-64 (Recap \| Box Score) Head Coach: Bill Coen (9th Season) Roster \| Schedule \| Statistics \| Homepage

CAA Tournament Bracket

BALTIMORE, Maryland – Less than 24 hours after beating one team for the third time this season, the UNCW men's basketball team will try to pull it off again when the No. 2-seeded Seahawks battle No. 3 Northeastern late today for the opportunity to play in Monday night's Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Championship.

UNCW and NU tip off at 5 p.m. after top-seeded William & Mary and No. 5 Hofstra battle at 2:30 p.m. The winners collide Monday at 7 p.m. for the league's automatic berth to the Big Dance, the NCAA Tournament.

The Seahawks raised their season ledger to 18-12 by dispatching regional rival College of Charleston, 79-53, in the third of four quarterfinal games on Saturday at Royal Farms Arena. UNCW advanced to the CAA semifinals for the 19^th time in 30 appearances and improved its tournament record to 33-25.

Senior forward Cedrick Williams registered his fourth double-double of the season and the eighth of his career with 19 points and 13 rebounds in Saturday's throttling of the Cougars. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., product was nearly perfect, converting 7-of-9 field goals and 5-of-6 at the free throw line in an all-around performance.

Fellow senior Freddie Jackson also scored 19 points, while senior guard Addison Spruill netted 12 and junior guard Craig Ponder contributed 11 points, four rebounds and four assists.

UNCW won its first tournament game in Baltimore since the league's post-season affair moved north last season. New Head Coach Kevin Keatts, the 2015 CAA Coach-of-the-Year, also won his first CAA Tournament game, becoming only the third UNCW skipper to win in his tourney debut (joining Robert McPherson and Brad Brownell).

The Seahawks took both games against the Huskies during the regular season, stunning NU, 75-48, on Jan. 5 in Boston and completing the sweep with a 66-61 victory on Valentine's Day at Trask Coliseum. The series is now tied at eight wins apiece.

Northeastern brings a 21-11 record into the contest under ninth-year skipper Bill Coen. Like the Seahawks, the Huskies feature an All-CAA first-teamer (senior center Scott Eatherton) and a second-team selection (David Walker).

The Huskies, who outlasted Delaware, 67-64, in the final game on Saturday, are seeking their first CAA title since joining the league in 2005-06. Northeastern is making its fifth semifinal appearance in 10 tries.

In Saturday's back-and-forth win over the Blue Hens, the Huskies shot 54.8 percent from the field and sank 14-of-17 free throws to offset 15 turnovers against UD. Walker led three players in double figures with 17 points in the narrow win.

UNCW has fashioned an 8-4 record as the No. 2 seed at the conference tourney. The Seahawks are the No. 2 seed for the sixth time and the first time since the 2008 campaign.

UNCW has won four CAA men's championships (2000, 2002, 2003, 2006) and advanced to post season six times (NIT in 1998 and 2001). With Keatts steering an experienced group of players this season, the postseason drought should end in the coming weeks.

Saturday's semifinal matchup with the Huskies can be heard on the Seahawk Digital Network via UNCWsports.com. Fans should click on the "Live Events" button on the top right-hand corner of the main page and follow the prompts for the free broadcast. A 15-minute pregame show kicks off the coverage followed by first-half coverage, a 15-minute halftime show, second-half action and a 15-minute post-game show.

Live-in game updates are also available on Twitter by following @UNCWmenshoops.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Freddie Jackson: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#0 Craig Ponder: G; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior

#24 Addison Spruill: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#40 Cedrick Williams: F; 6' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#10 Freddie Jackson
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#0 Craig Ponder
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior
: G

#24 Addison Spruill
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#40 Cedrick Williams
: 6' 9"; Senior
: F

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Seahawks Prep For Sunday Semifinal With NU's Huskies

Players Mentioned

#10 Freddie Jackson

#0 Craig Ponder

#24 Addison Spruill

#40 Cedrick Williams

Players Mentioned

#10 Freddie Jackson

#0 Craig Ponder

#24 Addison Spruill

#40 Cedrick Williams